What is a good breed for kids? Where to buy?

I have raised chickens off and on for 20 plus years so I am not a newbie here. My neices want chickens and my sister said I can get some for them. I always have have production and heritage breeds but I think my neices would like something more "fun". I was thinking about some pretty banties maybe feather footed, EEs and my sister wants some nice brown egg layers to go with them. The girls are 12, 9 and 5 and they have a house on 5 acres. My sister is having the hen house professionally built so I just need to tell her how big to make it. We were thinking 25 total chickens.

What breeds would be a good mix? I want something that will be moderate to good productive wise and pretty. I need to have them shipped from the hatchery since they are halfway across the country. They live in Eastern Washington, a little north of Spokane. Where is a good place to get them and can I have banties shipped with big hens?

Honestly I think the friendliness of the bird depends on how much it was handled from day one. Our silkies are always up for some love from the kids. They tolerate being held well. We have a little d'uccle that would LOVE to be a house chicken. She follows you around and tries to get you to hold her everytime you eter the run. Pick her up and she will snuggle down in your arms and most of the time fall asleep. She was raised by a 4Her that handled her alot and it shows. OUr banatm cochins are friendly. Our LF ameraucanas are really gental and will let you hold them if you catch them. The roo is also very sweet and gental with his girl, we only have a pair. We also have a barred rock that is the most social thing in the world. She is not one for being picked up, but if she is out free ranging and the kids are out playing, she is right there along with them.

I love my marans! also my Welsummers...
both breeds are super sweet, my Roos are all very sweet and love sitting on your lap and 'talking' to you!
they don't peck at all, and will let any kid hold them (although my Cuckoo is so big a kid can't hold him unless they are big...)
so, I'd vote Marans or Welsummers. Both lay dark brown eggs too, some with speckles, and that is very cool.

I'm pretty new to chickens myself, but we have a two-year-old son who loves our two buff orpingtons. They are very soft, love to be held, and are good producers. Also, I just placed an order for more chicks from Meyer Hatchery. I ordered quite the assortment including a few banties. This is my first time ordering, so we will see how it turns out! Good luck!

I personally recommend bantam Cochins or Silkies as they are easy to handle and are not easily startled into flying off. Sizzles and Frizzles are cute and fun and mine lay like crazy.
My Marans are wonderful but really heavy to pick up as are some other breeds.
I have heard great things about the Speckled Sussex and I loved my buff Brahmas.

Ok, I am leaning towards banty Silkies and Cochins. Full Sized Brahmas and Barred Rocks (I have had both of these at some point in life and really like them) and Easter Eggers in both big and banty sizes. Does this sound good for three little girls who mother wants some good brown egg layers too.

Since they live across the country from me in Eastern, WA I will have to get some from a hatchery and have them shipped. Both Stromburgs and Cackle have all the breeds I want, is one better than the other or does someone have a better suggestion?

I think any of the following are excellent choices for children to raise and handle:

- Cochins -- Mellow, fluffy, cuddly, not too fast.
- Silkies -- Same sort of temperament as cochins.
- D'uccles -- Also pretty mellow, come in the popular mille fleur and porcelain patterns. Pretty birds.
- Old English Game Bantams -- Small and easy to handle, come in very many colors, and very tame and friendly if raised around people.
- Seramas -- Same sort of thing as old english game bantams, but a little harder to get.
- Modern Game Bantams -- Again, smaller bantams and I believe they tame easily, too. Some people love the look of them, others don't. I thought I didn't like them, but once I saw some in person I totally changed my tune and want one or two now.
- Japanese -- Personally, my Japanese have never been all that friendly, but I didn't raise most of the ones I've had myself. I've heard from others that theirs were very personable.

Those are my recommendations, keeping pet bantams myself and having grown up around bantams. Good luck!

My Dominiques from Cackle Hatchery are the sweetest things, they'll sit in your lap. As long as you spend a lot of time with your chickens when they are little (you can just sit out in the coop and talk at them, if you want) they should be at least handleable when they get older, even the flaky ones. Also, I recommend their Brahmas and Cinnamon Queens, mine all turned out verrry tame from the mixed batch I ordered.